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ishtar195's review against another edition
4.0
Bogart as a woman meets climate change, complete with homme fatale. I loved this futuristic mystery set in a submerged New York City. Rosen builds a believable, and perhaps all too plausible picture of what a beloved metropolis might look like in the next 100-200 years. True to form, the city adapts and rejects conventions. I cannot understate how much I enjoyed and appreciated that this book opens with two women, at the top of their game in different ways, talking to each other. I would perhaps have liked to see more differentiation between the female characters. I also felt like perhaps some of the technology seemed too similar to today (did it regress back after the flood?). I didn't care too much for the intricacies of the mystery itself but the style was just incredible. I hope that this isn't the only book Rosen plans for this world. There is so much more I want to know, about Simone as well as the mainland and the city.
lisawreading's review against another edition
5.0
Some two hundred years from now, the polar ice caps have long since melted. Chicago is on the coastline of mainland United States, which is ruled by a fundamentalist Christian government. Moving east, you'll find the Appalachian Islands, and then huge expanses of ocean covering the drowned cities, where tips of building occasionally poke up from the waves.
And then there's New York which, Depth makes clear, can survive anything.
Water levels have risen about 20 stories -- so the million or so people who still inhabit New York live on the 21st floor and above, employing newer technologies such as Glassteel to keep the above-water buildings more or less dry and waterproof. The building are connected by an intricate maze of bridges -- some well-maintained, some rickety -- and permanently moored boats, such as converted cruise ships and military vessels, which form everything from police stations to nursing homes to floating restaurants.
Watch your step! The waves keep churning beneath your feet, and you WILL get wet. Salt water and sea spray are everywhere, and those bridges can get pretty slippery. One big storm or moment of inattention, and you'll end up in the water... and in general, those who go in only come out as corpses destined for the recycling plant.
Oh, it's quite a world that author Lev AC Rosen has built here in Depth. The concept alone is worth picking up this futurist, sci-fi, noir detective story (described in the cover blurb as "Heinlein meets Hammett") -- but hey! There's an actual plot to go with it, and it's quite a good one.
Private investigator Simone Pierce is a tough, prickly red-head who goes her own way and sticks to her own company for the most part. Her only two trusted friends are Caroline, a highly-placed politician from a powerful family, and Danny, a young man with some unusual talents who masquerades as a psychic. Simone is out on a routine case, trying to get the goods on a client's possibly cheating husband, when she's pulled into something far more deadly and complicated. When the husband turns up dead, Simone finds herself embroiled in a web that includes suspicious cops, a potentially crooked pastor, an art-loving power broker, a sexy grad student, and a mysterious woman, whom Simone thinks of as The Blonde, who seems to be at the center of it all.
The author has pulled off quite a balancing act here, creating a fully fleshed-out detective story that keeps powering forward with high-level energy, and at the same time pulling us into a crazily off-balance world that delights with each water-soaked new chapter. The new environment is just fascinating, and I am full of admiration for the way the author slips in little details about the waves or the salt water or the constant dampness while there's a chase scene underway.
The dialogue has all the wryness, and sarcasm of a traditional noir detective tale, fine-tuned for this new place and time.
Even the descriptive passages are full of some wonderful imagery:
Really, I just can't say enough about Depth. I've been a fan of this talented author since his debut novel, All Men of Genius, was released in 2011. The detective part of the story is fun and engaging, but it's this concept of New York as a drowned city that somehow has managed to survive, to thrive, and to keep its own sense of independence and defiance that's truly a treat. I can't get enough of the world Lev AC Rosen has created in Depth, and I just hope there will be a sequel so I can visit once again!
(This review can also be found at Bookshelf Fantasies.)
And then there's New York which, Depth makes clear, can survive anything.
Water levels have risen about 20 stories -- so the million or so people who still inhabit New York live on the 21st floor and above, employing newer technologies such as Glassteel to keep the above-water buildings more or less dry and waterproof. The building are connected by an intricate maze of bridges -- some well-maintained, some rickety -- and permanently moored boats, such as converted cruise ships and military vessels, which form everything from police stations to nursing homes to floating restaurants.
Watch your step! The waves keep churning beneath your feet, and you WILL get wet. Salt water and sea spray are everywhere, and those bridges can get pretty slippery. One big storm or moment of inattention, and you'll end up in the water... and in general, those who go in only come out as corpses destined for the recycling plant.
Oh, it's quite a world that author Lev AC Rosen has built here in Depth. The concept alone is worth picking up this futurist, sci-fi, noir detective story (described in the cover blurb as "Heinlein meets Hammett") -- but hey! There's an actual plot to go with it, and it's quite a good one.
Private investigator Simone Pierce is a tough, prickly red-head who goes her own way and sticks to her own company for the most part. Her only two trusted friends are Caroline, a highly-placed politician from a powerful family, and Danny, a young man with some unusual talents who masquerades as a psychic. Simone is out on a routine case, trying to get the goods on a client's possibly cheating husband, when she's pulled into something far more deadly and complicated. When the husband turns up dead, Simone finds herself embroiled in a web that includes suspicious cops, a potentially crooked pastor, an art-loving power broker, a sexy grad student, and a mysterious woman, whom Simone thinks of as The Blonde, who seems to be at the center of it all.
The author has pulled off quite a balancing act here, creating a fully fleshed-out detective story that keeps powering forward with high-level energy, and at the same time pulling us into a crazily off-balance world that delights with each water-soaked new chapter. The new environment is just fascinating, and I am full of admiration for the way the author slips in little details about the waves or the salt water or the constant dampness while there's a chase scene underway.
The dialogue has all the wryness, and sarcasm of a traditional noir detective tale, fine-tuned for this new place and time.
"Are you asking me along to watch you interrogate someone I'm angry at in an attempt to repair our friendship?"
"That is exactly what I'm doing."
"Will you let me hit her?"
"If the opportunity presents itself."
Even the descriptive passages are full of some wonderful imagery:
Simone tossed what was left of her cigarette into the ocean. It cartwheeled into the water, one end leaving a trail of sparks like blood spatter.
Really, I just can't say enough about Depth. I've been a fan of this talented author since his debut novel, All Men of Genius, was released in 2011. The detective part of the story is fun and engaging, but it's this concept of New York as a drowned city that somehow has managed to survive, to thrive, and to keep its own sense of independence and defiance that's truly a treat. I can't get enough of the world Lev AC Rosen has created in Depth, and I just hope there will be a sequel so I can visit once again!
(This review can also be found at Bookshelf Fantasies.)
bhavani's review against another edition
4.0
If you read the headlines of today from around the world, but especially the United States, with topics such as climate change and increased flooding, book bans, religious organisations gaining more power amid various global uncertainties, and legislation denying women/people of colour/queer people of bodily autonomy and human rights, and extrapolate to the 23rd century, this book is what you'll get. It's unsettling, gritty, and compulsively readable.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
3.0
Not quite sure how to rate this I what I thought about it. It was a decent read
jwillis81's review against another edition
3.0
I bought this book based on the strength of the blurb and the promise of the worldbuilding. It sounded like an interesting take on a post-apocalyptic setting, and I'm always a fan of noir-ish private investigator stories. From the first few chapters, I found it to be really promising and have a lot of potential. The details of the world were vibrant, and the characters were set up in a way that kept me wanting to read more.
However, as I read on, I realized that the writing style that I enjoyed at the outset during the expository scenes was prevalent throughout. What worked really well to set the stage and establish characters in the early chapters became tedious and unnecessary detail when applied to minor locations or characters introduced later in the book as the pacing was supposed to be picking up.
Overall, I thought this was an okay read. There were things to like about it and things that needed work. If you don't mind flawed execution in the pursuit of interesting worldbuilding, it might be worth checking this title out.
However, as I read on, I realized that the writing style that I enjoyed at the outset during the expository scenes was prevalent throughout. What worked really well to set the stage and establish characters in the early chapters became tedious and unnecessary detail when applied to minor locations or characters introduced later in the book as the pacing was supposed to be picking up.
Overall, I thought this was an okay read. There were things to like about it and things that needed work. If you don't mind flawed execution in the pursuit of interesting worldbuilding, it might be worth checking this title out.
meganpalmer731's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the concept of this book--New York City after the ocean has risen and flooded most of the eastern portion of the US. People living in the top halves of buildings, connected by bridges... so many creative details. The rest of it was pretty good, too--an interesting murder story involving art and plenty of good twists.
thereistime's review
5.0
*I recieved this book free via Goodreads First Reads*
I loved this book, not so much for the plot, which was good and had some really great twists, but for the world building and depth of the characters.
The new New-York, mostly buried under the ocean, felt so real to me, like it was actually what New-York was now. There was obviously a lot of thought behind the 'disaster' that left New-York drowned, and the description was so clear that I had no trouble seeing exactly what the author wanted me to.
Every single character in this book had a story, they were all three-dimensional and felt like real people, even the characters that only showed up for a page or two. It's rare that you find a book that has so much thought put into the world and the people inhabiting it.
The actual story wasn't as amazing as the world, though I still enjoyed it and found myself desperate to know 'whodunit'.
Overall an absolutely fantastic read.
I loved this book, not so much for the plot, which was good and had some really great twists, but for the world building and depth of the characters.
The new New-York, mostly buried under the ocean, felt so real to me, like it was actually what New-York was now. There was obviously a lot of thought behind the 'disaster' that left New-York drowned, and the description was so clear that I had no trouble seeing exactly what the author wanted me to.
Every single character in this book had a story, they were all three-dimensional and felt like real people, even the characters that only showed up for a page or two. It's rare that you find a book that has so much thought put into the world and the people inhabiting it.
The actual story wasn't as amazing as the world, though I still enjoyed it and found myself desperate to know 'whodunit'.
Overall an absolutely fantastic read.
dom_madz's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
daynpitseleh's review against another edition
4.0
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm a sucker for mystery novels and post-apocalyptic/dystopian novels. Put them both together and I'm sold. Depth is a real winner for me, with its noir themes, strong female characters, and a detailed dystopian world (really fantastic world-building). It reminded me a bit of The Last Policeman trilogy, which I also loved. I look forward to reading more by the author.
I'm a sucker for mystery novels and post-apocalyptic/dystopian novels. Put them both together and I'm sold. Depth is a real winner for me, with its noir themes, strong female characters, and a detailed dystopian world (really fantastic world-building). It reminded me a bit of The Last Policeman trilogy, which I also loved. I look forward to reading more by the author.